Did You Know...

You can’t make a fairness omelette without calling out a few eggs, so here goes:

Republicans demanded Thursday that billionaire investment guru Warren Buffett reveal his tax returns if his views on tax rates are going to serve as the basis for the White House’s proposals.

Buffett has loudly and famously said he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary in arguing that the rich should bear a larger tax burden. He has inspired President Obama to institute a “Buffett rule” to guide his tax policies that says millionaires and billionaires should not pay a lower portion of their income on taxes than the poor and middle class.

Much of Buffett’s income is reportedly from capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate than federal income tax, so at the very least a direct boss/secretary comparison might help serve as evidence that the “Buffett Rule” should instead be called the “Apples & Oranges” tax plan.

Another question that might need to be asked of Buffett when it comes to hashing all this out is which of his “secretaries” he’s referring to.

Until this is settled, why won’t Buffett just pay whatever he feels is his fair share? The government makes it easy. No? Eh, can’t blame me for trying again.